Pop music

Greg Kot

The summer is loaded with big concerts in the pop world. Here are a few of the more notable ones:

U2: In which the Irish quartet joins the parade of major artists celebrating past triumphs by playing its 1987 album "The Joshua Tree" in its entirety. As usual, expect spectacular visuals and a game attempt to put it all into contemporary context. 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Soldier Field, 1410 Museum Campus Drive, $70-$134; www.ticketmaster.com

Lizzo: The Minneapolis rapper-singer-songwriter has become a feminist, body-positive advocate, role model and hitmaker rolled into one. 9 p.m. June 9 at Metro, 3730 N. Clark St., $18 and $22; www.metrochicago.com

Nick Cave: The singer is a rocker who happens to be a poet. In concert, he suggests a fallen preacher, an assassin, a rogue or a romantic, sometimes all in the same song. He's coming off one of his best albums, the 2016 "Skeleton Tree," and his shows with the Bad Seeds are must-sees. 8 p.m. June 16 at the Auditorium Theatre, $49.50-$99.50; my.auditoriumtheatre.org

Mamby on the Beach: MGMT, Local Natives, Walk the Moon and Flying Lotus are among the headliners, with an undercard that includes Sir the Baptist, Saba, Thundercat and Cut Copy — an electronic and hip-hop leaning festival that splits the difference between Lollapalooza's youth appeal and Pitchfork's cutting-edge cool, Noon June 24-25 at Oakwood Beach, 4100 S. Lakeshore Drive, $66.50-$199.99; www.mambybeach.com

American Music Festival: More than 50 bands and artists on three stages help this venerable west suburban roadhouse celebrate the Independence Day weekend Americana style in all its sprawling diversity, including Los Straitjackets with Marshall Crenshaw, Terrance Simien, Southern Culture on the Skids, Dave Alvin, Robbie Fulks and Shemekia Copeland. June 30-July 3 at FitzGerald's, Berwyn, $30 and $40, $120 four-day pass; www.fitzgeraldsnightclub.com

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: This 40th anniversary tour may be his last major go-round, Petty has hinted. But his band's popularity endures, as do the hits spanning decades — from "American Girl" to "Free Fallin.'" 7 p.m. June 29 at Wrigley Field, sold out; http://m.mlb.com/cubs/tickets/info/tompetty

Gorillaz: Damon Albarn has put together his virtual band with human stand-ins for cartoon characters Murdoc, 2D, Russel and Noodle. His recent guest-laden album, "Humanz," includes cameos by Chicago greats Mavis Staples and Jamie Principle, so who knows who might show up on stage? 7:30 p.m. July 8 at Huntington Pavilion, Northerly Island, $142-$882; www.livenation.com

Pitchfork Music Festival: Besides headliners LCD Soundsystem, A Tribe Called Quest and Solange, there are rare North American visits from PJ Harvey and Australian hip-hop maestros the Avalanches, plus legendary New Jersey post-punks the Feelies. Noon July 14-16 at Union Park, 1501 W. Randolph, $75 per day, $175 three-day pass; www.pitchfork.com

Kendrick Lamar: After the brilliance of his albums, "To Pimp a Butterfly" in 2015 and the recent "DAMN.," few artists command more respect or will embark on a more anticipated tour this summer. 7:30 p.m. July 27 and Aug. 20 at United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., $49-$655; www.ticketmaster.com

Lady Gaga: Though her recent albums have strained to find the subversive pleasures of her initial hits, Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta knows how to put on a show, and heads spin in anticipation of what she might do in the wide open spaces of this venerable ballpark. 7 p.m. Aug. 25 at Wrigley Field, sold out; http://m.mlb.com/cubs/tickets/info/ladygaga

Classical

John von Rhein

Grant Park Music Festival

Raising voices in song: The splendid Grant Park Chorus will be all over the musical map this summer. Director Christopher Bell's massed voices will join principal conductor Carlos Kalmar and the Grant Park Orchestra for Vaughan Williams' "A Sea Symphony" on the opening weekend, June 16-17 in Pritzker Pavilion of Millennium Park; they will close the 82nd season with Beethoven's iconic Ninth Symphony, Aug. 18-19. Two rarely heard masterpieces, Rachmaninov's "All Night Vigil (Vespers)" (July 13 and 18) and Frank Martin's "In Terra Pax" (July 28-29), also should whet the anticipation of choral music fans.

Podium newcomers: Grant Park has long been the place to spot gifted conductors who've escaped the CSO's attention. Keep your ear on two such figures this summer, Fawzi Haimor (July 12) and Brett Mitchell (July 19). I'm also looking forward to the belated Chicago debut of Simone Young, one of the few female conductors ever to lead the Grant Park Orchestra (July 14-15).

Red, white and blue: Kalmar makes certain to keep his Grant Park seasons well stocked with American music. This year's array includes works by Gershwin, Copland and George Whitefield Chadwick, along with a co-commissioned horn concerto by composer-in-residence Aaron Jay Kernis, in its world premiere (Aug. 11-12).

Jimmy's back: None of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's 18 concerts at its summer home is more highly anticipated than the Aug. 8 performance of Haydn's "The Creation," under James Levine, Ravinia's longtime music director and newly named conductor laureate. Papa Haydn's masterful oratorio also happens to be one of the Chicago Symphony Chorus' signature pieces.

John Adams at 70: Ravinia will salute the great American composer's 70th birthday year with a CSO performance of his orchestral masterpiece "Harmonielehre," under debut conductor Kent Nagano (July 25). Other Adamsiana will enlist the Lincoln Trio (Aug. 16), The Knights (Aug. 17), duo pianists Christina and Michelle Naughton (Aug. 24) and violinist Chad Hoopes (Aug. 30).

Beethoven cycles galore: The dynamic Pacifica Quartet, in a project postponed from last summer, will present the complete Beethoven string quartets in five programs at Bennett Gordon Hall, Sept. 1-3. Want more Ludwig? The thoughtful pianist Jonathan Biss will continue his multiyear cycle of the Beethoven piano sonatas with recitals Aug. 15 and 17, also in Bennett Gordon.

Pierre-Laurent Aimard: The brilliant French pianist, one of today's foremost interpreters of the visionary modernist Olivier Messiaen, will tackle the French composer's formidable cycle "Catalogue of the Birds" (July 31).

BGH Classics: For only $10 a ticket, Ravinia patrons this summer have their pick of more than 20 concerts by promising and established classical musicians. Artists set to grace this year's Bennett Gordon Hall series include the Fine Arts and Simon Bolivar string quartets (June 17 and Sept 4, respectively); St. Charles Singers (Aug. 20); oboist Cristina Gomez Godoy (July 23); cellist Harriet Krijgh (Aug. 18); and duo pianists Daniel Schlosberg and Inna Faliks (Aug. 31).

Virtual-reality symphony: A digital video installation will allow the listener to experience a Sibelius symphony performance from the onstage perspective of the musicians of London's Philharmonia Orchestra, with Esa-Pekka Salonen conducting. Look for the traveling installation on the festival grounds from July 11 to July 23.

Judy Roberts: A beloved singer-pianist, Roberts makes her annual return home to Chicago from Arizona. She'll lead a quartet with saxophonist Greg Fishman, her husband. 8 and 10 p.m. June 8 through 10; 4, 8 and 10 p.m. June 11; Jazz Showcase, 806 S. Plymouth Court; $20-$35; 312-360-0234 or www.jazzshowcase.com

Thaddeus Tukes: The charismatic young vibraphonist steps into the spotlight, his work inspiring to anyone hopeful for the future of jazz. 5 and 7 p.m. June 5 and 12; Andy's Jazz Club, 11 E. Hubbard St.; $10; 312-642-6805 or www.andysjazzclub.com

Linda May Han Oh: Adventurous bassist Oh celebrates the release of her album "Walk Against Wind." She'll be joined by saxophonist Ben Wendel, guitarist Matthew Stevens and drummer Eric Doob. 8:30 p.m. June 17 at Constellation, 3111 N. Western Ave.; $10-$15; www.constellation-chicago.com

Paul Marinaro: Chicago's gift to the art of jazz and swing singing has become a regular feature at the city's newest room. He'll lead a trio. 7, 8:30 and 10 p.m. June 20 and July 18; Winter's Jazz Club, 465 N. McClurg Court, on the promenade; $15; 312-344-1270 or www.wintersjazzclub.com

Bucky Pizzarelli: In a rare appearance, 91-year-old guitarist Pizzarelli will play a one-night-only show, leading his quartet. 8 and 10 p.m. June 22; Jazz Showcase, 806 S. Plymouth Court; $25-$40; 312-360-0234 or www.jazzshowcase.com

Tony Bennett: The master returns to the North Shore to mark his 91st birthday. Considering how well he sounded last year, this will be another historic occasion. 8:30 p.m. Aug. 4; Ravinia Festival, near Lake-Cook and Green Bay Roads; $116-$146 reserved; $39 lawn ($5 more on day of performance); 847-266-5100 or www.ravinia.org